1987...George Bell

My name is Craig Ballard, and I am a Jays fan

No this is not another AA meeting (Alex Anthopolous) but rather a look at a piece of Jays history...

1987 debut

For many Jays fans thoughts of 1987 start and end with the collapse of the team down the stretch that cost them the AL East Title (back in the day when there were 2 Divisions in the AL and 2 in the NL and you made the playoffs by winning your 7-team Division - period - there was no Wild-Card...1987 had the Iran-Contra affair...debut of the Simpsons on the Tracy Ullman Show...debut of the Loonie...the birth of Kristin Cavallari...but the idea of 3 Divisions, or the Wild-Card, were years away)...

The '87 Blue Jays were managed by the soon-to-be maligned Jimy Williams...the beginning of his end came in the summer leading into the 1988 season when he wanted reigning AL MVP George Bell to DH instead of playing Left Field like Bell insisted...but 1987 had everyone still pulling for Jimy...heck it was a 96 win team...the issue was those 96 wins were in the books after 155 games were played...those 96 wins had the Jays ahead of the Detroit Tigers by 3.5 games with 7 left to play...alas those 96 wins would be all the Jays would muster as they collapsed to the tune of 7 straight loses to end the 162 game season in 2nd place by 2 games

But...if you are like my Grandpa, my cousin David, or yours truly then 1987 has other, much happier memories...courtesy of Jorge (George) Antonio Bell Mathey ...Let's remember that Bell averaged 31 HR's and 104 RBI's during a 5 year span from '84 through '88 in the powder blue Toronto uni...all that while enduring Fergie Oliver and his sure-to-be stupid question to you in the dugout (side note - Good Lord do we all remember Fergie Oliver?!?!  Not Just Like Mom Fergie Oliver, but worse, in-the-dugout reporter Fergie Oliver!!!  A complete sideshow in itself...this guy would create such bazaar questions with horrible timing and it got old fast with the players)

Now when the 2010 MLB season concludes in a few short weeks for YOUR TORONTO BLUE JAYS we will certainly take a look at the amazing season put together by Jose Bautista...a season that has him as the Jays new single-season HR leader...he passed George Bell's Blue Jays record of 47, hit in 1987...

Here are Bell's #'s from 1987 - .308 batting average...111 runs scored...47 HR's...134 RBI's...AL All-Star (side note - Bell put up this historic season at $1.175 million...imagine what these #'s would pay these days?!?!)

We remember an RBI machine in 1987...if George came to the plate with runner(s) on base they were about to be coming home...369 total bases for Bell...188 hits...this all added up to the Blue Jays only MVP award in their 33+ year history...


There was a game in late April where Bell hit just his 2nd HR of the season, it was a 10th inning game winner at Chicago against Bob James...just 5 RBI's at this point too, and this is after 16 games...2 days later he hits 2 HR's in a Jimmy Key 5-2 victory...another the next day off Frank Viola...by the time May ended Bell was up to 15 HR's and 39 RBI's and it was on...a 12 HR, 30 RBI June cemented Bell on the scene as one of the premier hitters in MLB...July saw Bell start in the All Star Game, but hit just 3 HR's for the month...he was back at it though in August with 11 more before finishing with 47...

The pride of San Pedro de Macorís (Dominican Republic) was one of my fav Jays ever and 1987 was a historic season for #11

craig.ballard@hotmail.com

Week 1 thoughts...Week 2 thoughts...

What was confirmed in week one...

Much like past teams, the 2010 Jets, Ravens, and Steelers will still put their ticks in the WIN column by leaning on a stifling defensive attack...

With the loss of long time coaches Tom Moore and Howard Mudd the Colts will need some time to adjust, and as a result their streak of 7 straight 12+ win seasons is surely in jeopardy...

Kansas City is back on the map as a tough tough place to play...

If you are playing the Patriots in Foxbourough you had better bring your A+ offense - your 30+ points with no turnovers kind of offence...Wes Welker missed several games in 2009 and still led the League in catches...Randy Moss is in a contract year so we know he is focused and motivated...Tom Terrific has never thrown a regular season INT in the Red Zone at home in his career...when he gets near the end zone he racks up points, especially at home...

In order for Arizona to win a 3rd straight NFC West Title we know that WR Larry Fitzgerald will have to be huge...he gets the game winning TD in week one which counts as a great start...he is just starting to develop a chemistry with new QB Derek Anderson

Tennessee is on a 9-2 run since giving the starting QB job back to Vince Young



What was interesting in week one...

Houston Texans RB Arian Foster picked up on the momentum he had when he got a lot of carries in the last 2 games of 2009...he starts 2010 with an amazing 231 yards with 3 TD's to beat the Colts      

Giants QB Eli Manning and WR Hakeem Nicks continued to develop their chemistry to the tune of 3 TD's

11 games finished with the final margin of victory at 7 points or less - most ever in the NFL

The Broncos trade for Patriots RB Laurence Maroney...what about #1 round draft pick from 2009 Knowshon Moreno?  And how do the Pats figure they have any talent/depth at that position to trade any RB?!?!

New York Jets lose DT and anchor Kris Jenkins for the year

Green Bay loses RB Ryan Grant for the year

Philly likely loses QB Kevin Kolb for a bit with a concussion



What will have to improve from week one...

• Falcons RB Michael Turner 42 yards
• Jets convert just 1 Third Down
• Bills RB C.J. Spiller 7 carries for 6 yards
• Packer QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked 3 times...he was dropped 50 times last season and this is a major area of concern that needs improvement for the Pack
• the wording of the NFL rule that defines what a catch is needs to be adjusted to take out the words End Zone...did anyone see the Calvin Johnson End Zone catch vs Da Bears at the end of the game and not think that was a TD?!?!  I have been all over this rule for a while now and this was a great example of why the rule needs tweaking...if a ball carrier breaks the plane the play is over in that instant and it is a TD, but a player trying to make a catch in the End Zone has to do a lot more to have it be an official TD

Week 2

New England at New York Jets
A HUGE game...with all the press that the J-E-T-S JETSJETSJETS got this summer it would be a disaster to lose this game...that would put the Pats at 2-0 (1-0 in the Division and 2-0 in the AFC) and the Jets at 0-2 (0-1 in the Division and 0-2 in the AFC) which would put the Jets behind the 8-ball as far as tie-breaking scenarios go...not to mention a loss would put the Jets at 0-2 in their new home stadium...


Baltimore at Cincinnati
Cincy went 6-0 in the Division last year, and have won the last 4 games vs Baltimore in Cincy with Carson Palmer at the helm...The Ravens D looked great in week 1, but this is a different offence and the home debut for Batman and Robin (Ochocinco and Owens)...WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh makes his return to Cincinnati, this time as a Raven

Buffalo at Green Bay
I am looking at the RB's here...for Buffalo the debut of C.J. Spiller was horrible as they were unable to get him the ball in open space which would allow his speed and athleticism to dominate...for GB Brandon Jackson is the man now with the injury to Grant

Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Titans RB Chris Johnson's streak of 12 straight 100+ yard games could be in jeopardy...We know the Steelers O will struggle sans Big Ben, but the D is great and this is a classic strength vs strength


St Louis at Oakland
I mention this game because either Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford will get his first win, or new Raiders QB Jason Campbell will get his first Raiders win...for these 2 teams and their fans there is normally not a lot to get excited about, but someone will likely win this game (could I have just jinxed this?!?!  are we destined for a 3-3 tie now?!?!)

Hotlanta, Cincy, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Minny, Carolina, Denver, Oakland, San Diego, INDY, SF...all these teams lost week 1, but have their home openers in week 2 and will try to get back on track...

craig.ballard@hotmail.com

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers
For the first time in years the 'Niners return the same trio at Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Defensive Coordinator...that sort of consistency is coming at a perfect time as the recent kings of this Division, Arizona, have numerous changes and have lost several key players meaning the NFC West is wiiiide open...

The O struggled again in 2009, but there is room for optimism...QB Alex Smith is in a contract year and he needs a breakout season badly...in an attempt to help kick-start his season the 49ers have Smith as one of their Captains...fellow Captain TE Vernon Davis called out WR Michael Crabtree a few days ago and these Captains are trying to help Head Coach Mike Singletary establish a particular culture of hard hard hard work in the belief that is the way to improve and get results...the team insists that the spat between Davis and Crabtree is in the past, and if it is then it looks like message delivered and received...one surprise in Training Camp was the abrupt retirement of 2nd year RB Glen Coffee...that became a positive though as he was replaced by veteran RB Brian Westbrook...the 'Niners have talented RB Frank Gore, but Gore has missed multiple games for years in a row due to a wonky ankle so to have a veteran like Westbrook to pick up that slack is huge

A BEAST coaching a BEAST

The D is already a great unit...Top 5 as far as fewest points allowed...LB Patrick Willis is a-m-a-z-i-n-g and it likely helps that his Head Coach (Mike Singletary) is one of the greatest to ever play the position...there is a lot of talent on D but Willis is really on a different level

PREDICTION...this team gets to 9 wins in 2010 and that will be enough to win the NFC West Division


Arizona Cardinals
Plain and simple - if Derek Anderson is your starting QB (hey good luck with that) then the terrible running game from 2009 has to improve in leaps and bounds...Beanie Wells would likely be the starter, but he is banged up so the carries early on will go to Tim Hightower...the O-Line is decent

Larry does not have much help anymore

WR Larry Fitzgerald says he is rested and ready to go, although he too is banged up...that leaves Steve Breaston and Early Doucet to pick up the slack left by Fitzgerald not being 100%, plus of course the massive hole left by Anquan Boldin being traded to Baltimore

On D the '09 Cards sacked a lot of QB's, and it was really spread out with many players getting in on the fun...the 2010 draft was D heavy for 'Zona...Camp did not show that it was a particularly good draft...DT Dan Williams will play some, but none of the rookies have earned starting roles...there are 5 new starters including LB Joey Porter who is currently banged up

PREDICTION...8-8...the 2010 Arizona Cardinals will take the biggest step back in the NFL this year...from 2-time defending AFC West Champs to no play-off birth in 2010


St Louis Rams

#1 overall pick in 2010 QB Sam Bradford

#1 overall 2010 draft pick QB Sam Bradford earned the starting job in Camp...he has a tough job ahead of him...an O-Line that is bad...his best WR Donnie Avery is out with injury...his WR's are guys like Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson , Laurent Robinson, and rookie Mardy Gilyard... a whole lot of yikes there...a few days ago they did trade for WR Mark Clayton who became expendable in Baltimore when the Ravens inked T.J. Houshmandzadeh...the running game does have the consistently good Stephen Jackson, but even Jackson only had 4 TD's last season - a # that has to triple in 2010...rookie O-Lineman Roger Saffold joins Bradford as rookies who will start in the Gateway to the West this season...

For you to only win 1 game in a season A LOT has to be bad...the O was bad, the D was pretty much as bad...too many area of improvement to mention...if you can think of it - the Rams need to improve it...the good news is 2nd year Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo learned from the great Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson (R.I.P) for years before being the D-Coordinator for the NY Giants during their 2008 Super Bowl season so if there is a man for the job of rebuilding this D to respectability it is Spagnuolo

PREDICTION...a rise from 1 win in 2009 to 4 in 2010


Seattle Seahawks
Qwest Field is one of the great facilities that offers amazing Home Crowd atmosphere in the League...they dub the stadium/fans the 12th man as they are so loud and into the game...opposing teams get flagged for False Starts at Qwest Field more than anywhere else...the fans had a 5-11 team to cheer for in 2009...enter new Head Coach Pete Carroll...I am a believer that this guy is an absolute joke as an NFL Head Coach...he did show that he could run a College program though as his days at USC were good...of course now some of that is certainly tarnished by his, and others, violations that have led the USC Football program (amongst several USC sports programs that got hit with penalties due to NCAA violations) to be banned from post-season play for 2 years - lose 30 scholarships over the next few years - be on probation for 4 years...all that had Carroll running away from that situation as fast as possible...

The Carroll era did get off to a great start as the team had 2 draft picks in the first 14 picks of the 2010 draft...#6 overall pick OT Russell Okung is currently hurt and his return date is unknown...#14 FS Earl Thomas will start alongside veteran Lawyer Milloy in the Secondary...rookies Walter Thurmond (CB) Kam Chancellor (S) and E.J. Wilson (DE) also made the team and will get playing time on D too...the D was one of the worst in the NFL in 2009 so plenty of room for improvement

QB of the future Charlie Whitehurst

On O QB Matt Hasselbeck is the starter, but QB Charlie Whitehurst was acquired from San Diego in the off-season and will likely get a shot to be the guy going forward at some point...Matt had just 17 TD's to go with 17 INT's last season...very underwelming #'s...the O should get a boost though as the running game is good with young Justin Forsett to pair with veteran Julius Jones...rookie WR Golden Tate will start for the 'Hawks...the other starter will be Deion Branch, but it is WR Mike Williams (formerly with Carroll at USC) who is the wild card here...Williams was one of the zillions of WR's that then Detroit GM Matt Millen used high draft picks to take during his horrible stint as Lions GM...Williams was out of the League in 2008 and 2009, but word is that he looks great and ready to show that he can play at this level...all of these guys will benefit from the play of Russell Okung when he is able to return from injury...

PREDICTION...when you look on their schedule who can they beat?!?!  I think a 4 win season is the upside in Seattle

check out the other Division previews too... craig.ballard@hotmail.com

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings
The bad news is obvious when it comes to the impending work stoppage coming in 2011...the good news is it will mean no Brett Favre saga next summer :)

gunslinger Brett Favre

Favre returns again to suit up for what will surely to gracious be his final season...that constitutes as just about the only good news on O...RB Adrian Peterson is an out-of-this-world talent, but his fumble-itis is crazy bad...especially with 2009 #2 RB Chester Taylor gone to the rival Bears...this means more emphasis on Peterson as the every-down back...the Vikes only have Albert Young and his 15 career carries to back up the awesome, but fumble-prone, Peterson...WR's Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Sidney Rice all need a return to health asap...we know that Rice (who is a stud-in-the-making WR) will miss at least 6 weeks...TE Visanthe Shiancoe will be a key for Favre in 2010, especially early on

The D has Ray Edwards (awesome), Pat Williams (awesome), Kevin Williams (awesome), and Jared Allen (awesome) on their Front 4...these guys sack QB's as good as any team, and shut down the oppositions run game as good as anyone

PREDICTION...10-6...2010 is the year that the Packers fans get their revenge on Favre and pass him in the standings...


Chicago Bears

QB Cutler with Coach Martz

Da Bears interest me this season...mainly to see the development of the offence with the pairing of QB Jay Cutler with new Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz...Cutler and Martz both were relevant in the League at one point in their careers...lately neither has been...throw Lovie Smith into that mix too as he could very well be on the hotseat in Chitown...

That being said I still think the key for Da Bears is a return to the rookie 2008 form for RB Matt Forte...all of his #'s took big dips in 2009...between Forte and new Bear RB Chester Taylor there must be production for Cutler to have a better chance to improve on his 26 INT's (yikes) from 2009...starting WR's Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, plus Devin Aromashodu off the bench, give the O speedy weapons who can be dangerous after the catch...Earl Bennett is out with injury currently, but should be back soon

The D adds Julius Peppers and he is sure to get more than the 6.5 sacks Adewale Ogunleye led the team with in 2009...it is not all good news on D though...rookie S Major Wright and veteran LB Lance Briggs are both out right now, but are both hoping to return soon (best case scenario is week 1 vs Detroit)

PREDICTION...this is a very under-the-radar team with Minny and Green Bay getting the pub in this Division...the early injuries don't help...8-8 with a 9-7 upside



Detroit Lions
QB Matthew Stafford...RB Javid Best...DT Ndamukong Suh...in the past 2 years the Lions have added talent like this to this roster...all 3 have me very excited...Suh especially...

6'5'' WR Calvin Johnson

That being said I still think the key to the O are 2 guys that are already there...RB Kevin Jones has a chance to form a nice 1-2 punch with Best...but it is WR Calvin Johnson that has the most talent here...it has been toooo easy to double-team Johnson because the Lions have no other threat on O...free agent signing WR Nate Burleson should help

On D the Lions were horrid in 2009...well actually horrid for some time now...Suh helps, but newcomers like DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT Corey Williams, CB Jonathan Wade (hurt currently), and CB Chris Houston will all start and have a chance to improve the unit immediately

Week 5 Detroit hosts the St Louis Rams in what should be #1 overall from 2009 QB Matt Stafford vs #1 overall from 2010 QB Sam Bradford...that could be a lot of fun

PREDICTION...this team has won 2 games total in the last 2 seasons...I will be generous and double that # this season...4-12

Green Bay Packers
The Pack won 11 games in 2009, and I think they have a chance to get even better in 2010...

O-Line must do a better job at keeping QB Rogers upright

QB Aaron Rogers put up video game #'s in 2009...he did however get sacked an amazingly bad 50 times...clearly that has to improve, and if it does that will allow Rogers to add to his already impressive #'s...I actually think he will be Offensive Player Of The Year, and if he can get GB to 12 wins he will get MVP consideration too...he has talent to throw to in WR's Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, plus up-and-coming TE Jermichael Finley...all that plus the running game appears to be in good hands with Ryan Grant

Would it surprise you to see that the Packers were the #2 D in the NFL last season...amazing vs the rush...amazing vs the pass...amazing 30 INT's (wow wow wow)...so really the strategy for 2010 is keep on keepin' on...the Pack do have several players banged up on D currently as we are set to open week one

PREDICTION...I like a repeat of the 11-5 2009...if it weren't for the early injuries I would surely have this team at 12 wins...when this team gets healthy we will be looking at a Super Bowl contender in my opinion

check out the other Division previews too... craig.ballard@hotmail.com

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Tashard Choice...Marion Barber...Felix Jones

How 'bout them Cowboys?!?! There is a lot of expectation about the 2010 Cowboys season...Super Bowl XLV will be held at Cowboys Stadium...fans in Dallas think their team can represent the NFC in that very Super Bowl...the offense adds rookie Dez Bryant to go with Roy Williams (Roy is a guy who really needs to have a strong 2010) and Tony Romo BFF Jason Witten...last year was the coming out party for WR Miles Austen...all that plus the 'Boys are l-o-a-d-e-d in the backfield...Marian The Barbarian is very good...Felix Jones is Ray Rice-level good...heck third stringer Tashard Choice is a 5+ yard per carry guy too...ultimately this unit will lead this team as far as the Cowboys will go, and this unit will only go as far as the O-Line takes them...there is a ton of talent at the skill positions

The D is in the Top 10 as far as generating pressure on the QB...Head Coach Wade Phillips leaves the O to Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, but he has his fingerprints all over what they do on D...very aggressive 3-4

PREDICTION...the Cowboys are an 11 win team



New York Giants
The New York football Giants won a Super Bowl on the strength of a highly productive running game, mixed with a D that featured a heavy pass-rush...2009 saw none of that...

new starting RB Ahmad Bradshaw

The O needs a return to a 5+ yards per carry average from RB Brandon Jacobs...his 3.7 with just 5 TD's in '09 is not going to cut it...Ahmad Bradshaw battled injuries and needs a return to health...in an attempt to kick-start a better running attack for 2010 Head Coach Tom Coughlin has named Ahmad Bradshaw as the starter ahead of Jacobs...word is that Jacobs is pissed


QB Eli Manning still put up big #'s last season, but only enough to help to an 8-8 record...in the mediocrity that is 8-8 the team did discover new talent at WR...Steve Smith set team records...Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks showed that they can be counted on the be in the mix...

On Defense I am watching rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul...this rookie has upside as a pass-rusher in my opinion, but he will come off the bench early on...the truth is it is more the likes of Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Osi Umenyiora that will need to revitalize the pass rush...a repeat of 2009's 32 sacks is sure to be not good enough to be a factor in this tough Division

PREDICTION...9-7 is the best case scenario for this team...I predict Tom Coughlin will not be the coach of this team in 2011+


Philadelphia Eagles

Head Coach Andy Reid watches QB Kevin Kolb

For a loooong time the Eagles were going to go as far as QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook would take them...neither is there as we enter the 2010 season...in is QB Kevin Kolb who had mixed reviews for his 2009 performance...he actually set records in his first 2 starts, but there were struggles too...I think it is entirely possible that Andy Reid and company have mis-evaluated their QB situation and it could end up with the type of team, and the type of record, that could cost Big Andy his job...Reid's off-season moves mean that this team has 12 rookies on the opening day roster, and 5 new players from other teams...a HUGE overhaul for a team that won 11 games in 2009

QB controversy aside, there is a ton of young up-and-coming talent on this O...2nd year RB LeSean McCoy replaces Westbrook, and this kid has upside...WR DeSean Jackson is the next amazing WR that people will soon have in the same breath as Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald etc...last season was a coming out party for TE Brent Celek who looks like he is a great target for Kolb going forward

I mentioned earlier the amount of rookies on this 2010 squad...the Eagles drafted HEAVY on D and it paid off...DE Brandon Graham and S Nate Allen have already earned starting jobs, and Ricky Sapp should be a factor for years to come too when he is able to return from recent knee surgery

PREDICTION...losing McNabb and Westbrook seems to me like it will really hurt this teams play-off chances...we see a TON of young talent on this roster, but that may be good news for 2011+ and not so much in 2010...7-9...with a break here or there 8-8

Washington Redskins

If your owner is Dan Snyder then you are certainly no stranger to controversy...the 2010 'Skins are no different...big-moves-a-plenty in the Nation's Capital...new Head Coach Mike Shanahan has a new fav player in QB Donovan McNabb, plus a new headache in Phat Albert Haynesworth...the Haynesworth story is really sad as here is a guy who knew the team was going to go to a new 3-4 D scheme so he was told he would be released or traded so he could play elsewhere in a system that he prefers...only catch was do not cash the $21 million chq from the 'Skins for April 1/10...he of course did cash that which made him a Redskins player going forward...now at that point the writing was on the wall as to the fact that Albert would be the Nose Tackle in the 3-4...to now have Haynesworth carrying on the way he is, and to have him expose himself as the selfish teammate that he is is super disappointing...newcomer DT Maake Kemoeatu is thrilled with the baby act of Haynesworth as it means that he has passed Haynesworth on the depth chart and it is now Kemoeatu who will start...good news is McNabb is sure to be a great addition, and model teammate...and good news for McNabb (who is currently nursing an ankle injury) is that #1 draft pick Trent Williams will start at Left Tackle and protect his blindside

The RB spot is a 2005 NFL who's who...Clinton Portis is joined by Larry Johnson, and the team just released Fast Willie Parker...an aging McNabb surely needs a huge contribution from the running game in 2010...WR's Santana Moss and Joey Galloway have speed and experience, while TE's Chris Cooley and Fred Davis are great pass catchers too...a lot of experience on this side of the ball for Shanahan to work with

The D will be interesting...we already talked about Haynesworth, but this is another team switching rom the 4-3 base D to the 3-4 base D...interestingly enough the 'Skins were a Top 10 D in 2009, but some time to adjust to the new packages/schemes/strategies will be needed

PREDICTION...I want to say 7-9, but with McNabb not starting the season at 100% I am going to go with 6-10

check out the other Division previews too... craig.ballard@hotmail.com

AFC West

San Diego Chargers

rookie stud-in-the-making Ryan Matthews

I don't see a bigger sure thing as far as Division winners go in the entire NFL than the SuperChargers...now I am no fan of Head Coach Norv Turner, but the talent in San Diego is top notch...the team loses the face of the franchise in LaDainian Tomlinson, but Chargers fans are about to have a new fav in rookie RB Ryan Matthews...real deal talent...real deal upside...Matthews will start as a rookie, and to have a back-up RB like Darren Sproles as Plan B is pretty good

The passing game was Top 5 in 2009, but they lose Vincent Jackson (Jackson is a hold-out who is looking like he will be traded or sit out 2010) and his back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons...that leaves 6'2'' Legedu Naanee and 6'5'' Malcolm Floyd as the starters, with 6'1'' Buster Davis and newly acquired 6 foot Patrick Crayton...a lot of size and talent there, but losing Jackson will hurt as he was awesome last season...one thing remains constant which is TE Antonio Gates who continues to be a Top 3 TE

The 2009 D had injuries, but was still pretty good...a return to health for studs like Shawne Merriman should of course provide quite the boost...a lot of talent at LB for this 3-4 D...in the Secondary Antoine Cason replaces the traded Antonio Cromartie...this Secondary does not create enough turnovers in my opinion

PREDICTION...the Chargers are the best team in the AFC that will never win a Super Bowl as they have a bad Head Coach (Dallas is the NFC equivalent with Wade Phillips)...a weak Division will help this team get to 11 wins


Oakland Raiders
Jokeland is still run by Skeletor aka Al Davis and he continues to be the #1 thing wrong with the franchise...Tom Cable is likely the worst Head Coach in the NFL, and he would not be in charge of the on-field product in any other NFL city, but when your meddling owner is the joke that Davis is no legit NFL coaches will entertain the career-suicide move of going to Jokeland...

QB Jason Campbell will try to revive his career

Hard to have a more futile offense than the Raiders had in 2009, but gone is the brutal QB JaMarcus Russell...in is under-achiever Jason Campbell...I think the jury may still be out on Campbell...his time in Washington was very underwhelming, but he seems to have the talent to be an NFL QB and sometimes a change of scenery is the cure for what ails you...

The running game is in need of major improvements...will this team get Michael Bush back from injury any time soon? Will RUN DMC aka Darren McFadden be able to reach his potential?

The passing game needs WR Darrius Heyward-Bey to greatly improve from his rookie season of '09...he started 11 games, but only had 9 catches and 1 TD...other targets for Campbell are TE Zach Miller - WR Johnnie Lee Higgins - WR Louis Murphy - rookie WR Jacoby Ford...very young, but not a lot of talent there

On D the team added a stud-in-the-making with the #8 overall pick LB Rolando McClain...he will get plenty of playing time and could be a beast for this franchise for years to come...in the Secondary Nnamdi Asomugha is a Top 3 CB...after that the cupboard is bare

PREDICTION...2009 was a 5-11 finish...since 2003 that ties for their best record (yikes)...that is 7 straight seasons of at least 11 losses...2010 will be year 8 of the ridiculous futility...5-11 again this season


Denver Broncos

this fan is amongst the growing majority

Head Coach Josh McDaniels is starting to redefine the whole "my way or the highway"...this guy is a sharp-shooter on the roof picking off anyone who looks at him cross eyed...it doesn't matter to him if you are a talent like Jay Cutler or Brandon Marshall, or even a Coordinator like Mike Nolan, if you are not willing to follow his ideas/strategy (his completely unproven ideas/strategy) then away you go...

2010 begins with a lot of injuries on both sides of the ball...on O rookie WR Demaryius Thomas is out...on D the loss of Elvis Dumervil is crippling

On O we know the story is how much playing time will rookie QB Tim Tebow get...I am not a fan of his ability to be a drop-back QB in the League, but perhaps in a specialty formation he can contribute...the good news is that QB Kyle Orton is 29-19 as a starting QB in the League...RB Knowshon Moreno is also down with injury leaving veteran Correll Buckhalter and Lance Ball as the ball carriers...hey good luck with that...

The D was Top 3 vs the pass in 2009...now a lot of that success came from the amazing season Elvis Dumervil had as far as the pressure he applied to opposing QB's...that is set to take several steps back as Elvis has left the building

PREDICTION...I will enjoy watching this team struggle and enjoy the backlash for McDaniels who has severely screwed up this franchise...4-12 with 5-11 as their upside


Kansas City Chiefs
The 2009 Chiefs were 4-12...I think that they will be the NFL's most improved team in 2010...

2nd year Head Coach Todd Haley adds Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis and Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel...both are BIG moves and both will have those units headed in the right direction

real deal RB Jamaal Charles

The team also added talent like RB Thomas Jones and rookie WR Dexter McCluster...that should help Matt Cassel rebound from a poor 2009 season...the main focus will continue to be RB Jamaal Charles whose workload will be shared with Jones and the 2 of them could be a very strong thunder/lightning combo

The D has a lot of young talent and Crennel is the coach to develop them...guys like Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, and rookie Safety Eric Berry have a ton of talent, but do need to develop at this level...add rookie CB Javier Arenas to that list...he will not be a starter like those other guys, but he has upside too

PREDICTION...this team should get to 7 wins...I like this team going forward

check the other Division previews too... craig.ballard@hotmail.com

AFC East preview

New England Patriots

these 2 will be on the attack in '10

I am really surprised to see how under-the-radar this Pats team is heading into 2010...the Jets are getting the pub in the AFC East, but to overlook New England during the Belichick-Brady era seems insane to me...this team limped to a 5-11 finish in 2000, but won the Super Bowl the following year and have had 9-7 as their worse season since...fans around the NFL would love for their team to win 10+ games this season...the Pats have been in double-digits in the W column for 7 straight years...2010 will be the 8th straight...

On your stats sheets at home go ahead and take a permanent pen and mark down Tom Terrific for 4,000+ yards...28+ TD's...go ahead and mark WR Randy Moss at 15+ TD's (Moss is in a contract year so I am anticipating a monster season from this stud)...it may be a slow start to the season for WR Wes Welker as he continues his incredibly quick recovery from a brutal knee injury which just 7 months ago required reconstructive surgery...but Brady has depth to throw to in WR's Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate...plus rookie TE's to play catch with in the Red Zone like Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez...

The running game and the defense are hardily Super Bowl contending units...any sense of excitement for the career of RB Laurence Maroney is gone...2004 is the last time the Pats had a 1,000 yard rusher, and Maroney has never reached that #, yet he will be the starter as the cupboard is pretty bare at the RB position...veterans Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk round out the underwhelming crew...I hope the plan is to run to the right where 6'8" 315 pound Sebastian Vollmer is entering his 2nd year and will be the starting Right Tackle

The D was likely going to be a unit that was going to struggle, but injuries and cuts have made the unit sure to struggle in 2010...The Pats were a Top 5 team in 2009 as far as points allowed, but 2010 will not be a repeat...I think the Pats will be in the bottom third of the NFL this season on D...losing Ty Warren hurts...losing CB Leigh Bodden hurts...the other starting CB from last season Shawn Springs is no longer a Patriot, plus S Jarrad Page is in to replace the injured Brandon McGowan leaving S Brandon Meriweather as the only returning starter to the Secondary

A lot of holes and issues for the 2010 New England Patriots, but I am a believer in Tom Terrific and Bill Belichick's ability to raise the level of play from their teammates...not a lot of love for the Pats entering the season and I think that works for them...these guys as an under-the-radar team could be dangerous, and a play-off squad...for me as I said I see a lot of holes here, but if you want to sleep on a Belichick/Brady team then you go right ahead...

PREDICTION...10-6...if the D can step up and provide stops better then I am projecting, and pressure the opposing QB better then I think, then the Brady Bunch should be able to outscore opponents and win 11+

 New York J-E-T-S JETSJETSJETS

Fireman Ed

Has Fireman Ed ever had a team to be so optimistic about?!?!  The 2010 Jets have fans thinking about a Super Bowl...heck the 2009 Jets had fans 1 half of football away from a Super Bowl...

The Jets were the best D in the NFL in '09 but we know that a massive part of that was the incredible campaign put together by CB Darrelle Revis and he is just getting there now...the good news is the Jets do have rookie CB Kyle Wilson for depth in case Revis Island takes a few weeks to get back to his high level of play...as I have wrote before the fact that the Jets had such a talent like Wilson fall in their laps with the #29 pick was great for this organization...the 2009 season from Revis was the best from that position that I have ever seen so there is certainly may be a drop-off if he is not quick to get back to his 2009 form, but to be able to have depth with a talent like Wilson is pretty damn good for the Gotham Green

The running game was great in 2009...the passing game not so much...of course that is because of how Head Coach Rex Ryan wants to win games which is with an aggressive/attacking D with a ball-controlled/run-oriented offense...the running game loses Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, but adds LaDainian Tomlinson, and of course a TON is expected from 2nd year man Shonn Greene...the passing game adds Santonio Holmes (after his NFL imposed 4 game suspension to begin the season)...the unit does have to help 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez improve on his 2009 stats of 12 TD's and 20 INT's...I think the addition of Tomlinson will help as he is a good check-down option for Sanchez to dump the ball to instead of trying to force the ball down field to covered WR's...as impressive as Greene was in his rookie 2009 season he had zero catches so he did not help his QB in the passing game at all...

Sanchez's #'s have to greatly improve, as does the 2009 home record of 4-4...Ryan and the Jets truly consider themselves an elite team capable of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl this season, but teams who are .500 at home are not traditionally huge contenders...more like pretenders...

PREDICTION...this was a 9-7 team in 2009 and I see some steps forward and some steps backwards...I do like their chances to continue to improve and contend in the AFC...10-6...a schedule that could allow the team to get to 11-5 (especially if they can repeat their 5-3 road record from '09 as this team is built to win on the road)


Miami Dolphins

3rd year Head Coach Tony Sparano  saw his 11-5 dream season from 2008 come back to reality in 2009 as his 'Phins lost the final 3 games to limp to the finish at 7-9...last season saw the team lose the first 3 games, and last 3 games, with a 7-3 middle...a 4-2 Division record included 2-0 vs the Jets...but just 4-4 at home which certainly has to improve

The celebrity owners of the team (Stephen Ross, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jimmy Buffett, Marc Anthony and J-Lo, Venus and Serena Williams, Fergie) invested a ton of $$$ into the franchise this off-season with the signing of free-agent LB Karlos Dansby, and trading for WR Brandon Marshall...the 2 of them a looking at a combined $93 million over the next 5 years...Dansby is the type of talent that can lead the D, and Brandon Marshall is an absolute beast at the WR position who is sure to be the #1 target going forward for young/developing QB Chad Henne...

A couple of years ago in Week 3 the Dolphins introduced the Wildcat offense in a game at New England and it has been a staple of their O ever since...the good thing about the Wildcat is it allowed their 2 best players (Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams) to be on the field at the same time...look for this to change in 2010...firstly Brown and Williams are no longer the best players on O (Marshall and Henne) secondly 2009 2nd round pick QB Pat White who was drafted to be the QB for the Wildcat was just cut, thirdly with WR's like Marshall, plus young talent like Brian Hartline and Devone Bess you don't want to run "gimmick" formations...even with the fact that Henne has limited experience I still think a more traditional running game and passing game should be the strategy going forward in South Beach...

For me, and if you are a reader of my blog then you know I have said this before, I want the 'Phins to re-establish TE Anthony Fasano as an every-down target for the QB - especially in the Red Zone...in 2008 Fasano and QB Chad Pennington developed a wonderful chemistry to the tune of 7 TD's which plummeted to just 2 last season with Henne at the helm...the WR unit is going to be very good for Miami which should allow a softer middle of the field for Fasano to operate...

part-owners Fergie and J-Lo

The pash-rush for Miami was very good in 2009 and that will of course need to continue...the Secondary has 2nd year starters Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, who both look like they have big careers ahead of them, but both have certain room for improvement...I actually am pretty optimistic that the D can take strides forward in 2010...rookies Jared Odrick (DE) and Koa Misi (LB) earned starting roles in Training Camp and should have a chance to contribute immediately

PREDICTION...this looks like a sure 8 win team to me, with a fortuitous break here-and-there I can see 9-7 with the highest upside of 10-6 (even as a Dolphins fan I think 10-6 would mean that a LOT of things went their way)

Buffalo Bills
Toronto's own Buffalo Bills have not made the play-offs in the 2000's...2010 will not change that...in is new Head Coach Chan Gailey (side note, and rant - why oh why do fossil-franchises like the Bills continue to hire re-tread Head Coaches like Dick Jauron and now Chan Gailey...the first-time coaches they gave chances to in the 2000's did not work out - Gregg Williams and Mike Mularky - but NFL franchise-after-franchise is going with the trend of hiring up-and-coming coaches and giving them the keys to the franchise and we see when it is done properly the results are immediate up-turns for the franchises...in their own Division Miami and New York have first-time coaches putting their teams back on the map...Baltimore has John Harbaugh - Pitt has Mike Tomlin - INDY has Jim Caldwell - Minny has Brad Childress - Hotlanta has Mike Smith - NWO has Sean Payton - Tampa Bay has Raheem Morris - SF has Mike Singletary - 'Zona has Ken Whisenhunt...all examples here have their teams on the right paths going forward so we see numerous examples of this working out, so why give a glorified Offensive Coordinator with zero career play-off wins your Head Coach job?!?!)

The roster is full of holes...the O-Line is comical...the QB is terrible...the WR unit has no talent to keep opposing D's from keying in on WR Lee Evans...just a whole lot of yikes on this roster...

TD for C.J. Spiller at Rogers Centre

I do like the RB unit...Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are the best players on the Offense (Lee Evans is really good though) and rookie C.J. Spiller is the best Home Run hitter on this team...if Gailey can game plan ways to get Spiller the ball in the open field he can put 6 points on the board in a hurry...

The key for me for this '10 squad is to improve their decade-long home futility...Buffalo was once a sure "L" for teams coming into Orchard Park, but the team is 38-42 in the 2000's at home...not even at .500...since the NFL expanded in 2002 the Bills are the only non-expansion team in the AFC to have not yet made the play-offs...I have good friends and family who are lifelong Bills fans and their suffering will continue in 2010, but for me I think if they can get back to a 5-3 home record then at least there will be cause for optimism going forward...

PREDICTION...if the Secondary can continue its impressive play from last season then perhaps we are looking at a 6 win team (if things really go well for them the upside would be 7 wins) but if they cannot create the turnovers in 2010 then this is a 4 or 5 win team...

check out the other Division previews... craig.ballard@hotmail.com